Revised October 2026

The Ph.D. in Politics is a fully funded five-year program. In some circumstances, students may need up to six years to finish, particularly when their dissertation research requires extensive fieldwork. In these cases, the department and university strive to make resources available.

Students who enroll in year six typically move into “Dissertation Completion Enrollment” (DCE) status (please refer to the Graduate School’s DCE Handbook for more information). Programs and centers that cover a student’s full or partial stipend in year six can be found across the University.

University and Graduate School Support

• The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in the Humanities (IHUM). Students accepted into the IHUM program in year three receive an additional year of support (tuition and stipend) to be used in year six.
• The Graduate School awards Honorific Fellowships to exceptional students in their later years of study. Selected students receive an additional year of support (tuition and stipend) that may be used in year six.
• The Dean’s Completion Fellowship/PGRA Program (this information is for current G5s who will applied spring 2026 for 2026-2027):
  • This program provides one semester of DCE tuition and full standard stipend funding for selected students. Students who successfully complete their dissertation and Final Public Oral (FPO/defense) before the end of the fellowship semester (December 31, 2026, for fall recipients or May 31, 2027, for spring recipients) will have the opportunity to be appointed as a salaried Postgraduate Research Associate (PGRA). For fall recipients, the PGRA appointment runs through July 31, 2027; for spring recipients, it runs through December 31, 2027.
  • If you receive the Dean’s Completion Fellowship but do not defend by the end of your fellowship semester, there is no penalty, and you may continue in DCE status. However, fall recipients will be responsible for securing their own spring-term DCE tuition and living expenses through teaching appointments, RA work, other fellowships, self-pay, or other means.
  • Current fifth-year students who choose to take the Dean’s Completion Fellowship in Spring 2027 will be responsible for securing their own fall 2026 stipend and living expenses funding, as department resources are not available for the fall term when the spring option is selected.
• Other university sources of funding that provide DCE tuition and full or partial stipend include:
  • East Asian Studies Program
  • Prize Fellowship
  • PIIRS Graduate Fellows Program
  • UCHV Graduate Prize Fellowship
• External funding may also be available through organizations such as the National Science Foundation.

Department Support

All students in years six and seven will have their DCE fees covered by the department. In addition, the department will have a competitive application process for stipend support in the sixth year. A call for applications will be made to G5s in the spring of their G5 year, and students will be asked to provide a description of their work and plans for their sixth year, including timing of defense, as well as a letter of recommendation from their adviser. Applications will be due at the same time as the DCF/PGRA applications and students will learn the results of the process in April. Those awarded department funds will receive one semester of stipend support, which may be taken in one semester or be split at a rate of 50% over both the fall and the spring.   

Sixth-year support is contingent on departmental and university budgets, which may change over time. We strive to maintain current information on our website and, whenever possible, provide 12 months’ notice regarding changes to support.

Questions regarding financial support in the sixth year should be directed to Kimberly Borden, Senior Manager, Finance and Administration.